Key Takeaways
• Deportation flights to Mexico increased from 1 to 9 weekly as of early 2025 under the Trump administration.
• Over 142,000 people deported from the U.S. in 2025, including 38,000 Mexicans and 6,000 non-Mexican nationals.
• Only about one-third of deported Mexican nationals use relief centers; most flights land in Mexico City.
The United States 🇺🇸 has sharply raised the number of deportation flights to Mexico 🇲🇽 in recent months, marking a big shift in the way the U.S. government handles people who are being sent back to their home countries. According to officials with the Department of Homeland Security, the Trump administration now plans to run nine flights into Mexico this week alone—a huge jump from the usual one flight per week in previous times. This change is part of President Trump’s plan, which his team says aims to carry out the largest mass deportation in the country’s history.
Let’s break down how this plan is working, what numbers are involved, what is happening inside Mexico, and the way other countries are reacting.
Rapid Increase in Deportation Flights
The rise in deportation flights has surprised many who keep track of immigration trends in North America. ICE Air Operations, the part of the U.S. government that operates these deportation flights, has reported that over 142,000 people have been deported from the United States 🇺🇸 in 2025 so far. Among them are about 38,000 Mexican citizens.
It’s important to point out that some immigration groups and observers have looked closely at these numbers and found that more than 66,000 of these cases were actually reported by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), which does not control the air flights for deportation. That means the real number of people forced onto deportation flights could be lower than the headline figure. But either way, there is no question that the overall rate of removals has gone up since January 2025.
Destinations Inside Mexico
The United States has not only increased the number of people it sends out, but also the places in Mexico where these flights land. From February 2024 to January 2025, American officials sent:
– 167 flights to Mexico City,
– 8 flights to Guadalajara,
– 8 flights to Morelia.
Most deportation flights land in Mexico City, which is the country’s biggest city and a major hub for travel and migration. The other cities—Guadalajara and Morelia—have received smaller numbers, but those flights still represent a change from past years when flights almost always arrived in just one place.
Who Gets Deported Into Mexico?
Mexico 🇲🇽 has agreed to take back not only its own citizens but also people from other countries who passed through Mexico on their way to the United States 🇺🇸. The government of Mexico, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has openly stated that they have let in about 6,000 non-Mexican citizens for “humanitarian reasons.” But it is also clear from her remarks that many of these people choose not to stay in Mexico very long and instead try to return to their home countries.
These numbers—6,000 non-Mexican nationals and 38,000 Mexicans since the start of 2025—show how broad the reach is of the current U.S. deportation plan.
Mexico’s “Embraces You” Relief Program
Knowing that big changes were coming, the Mexican government set up a special plan called “Mexico Embraces You.” This program prepared ten relief centers along the country’s northern border, each able to care for up to 2,500 people at any one time.
These centers give deportees:
– A free place to sleep and meals to eat,
– Medical services, including basic healthcare,
– Debit cards loaded with more than $100 for expenses,
– Free bus rides to the migrants’ home states.
The goal was simple: offer emergency services and a safety net to people returning suddenly, after being forced out of the United States.
However, the numbers coming out of these centers show something unexpected. Since President Trump’s new mass deportation policy began in January 2025, only about 14,300 Mexican nationals have gone through the “Mexico Embraces You” centers. This is only around one-third of the total number of Mexican citizens deported, as reported by American officials.
Why Aren’t More People Using Relief Centers?
So, what is happening with the rest of the deported people? Reports from the Mexican interior minister and local organizations suggest that many people do not stay in these shelters for long—if they use them at all. Instead, some just come by to pick up a kit with personal hygiene items, and then leave to find family or try to cross the border again elsewhere.
There are several reasons for this:
– Many Mexicans have family or friends nearby and can arrange their own transport after landing,
– Some do not trust government-run centers, even if the support offered is real,
– Others may be hoping to avoid detection and try crossing the border again later.
Despite creating enough space to care for thousands, many centers stand nearly empty on most days, according to Héctor Silva, who runs migrant shelters in Reynosa, Mexico 🇲🇽. Some have room for up to 5,000 people but are mostly unoccupied.
International Complications and Concerns
This stepped-up use of deportation flights has not only affected Mexico but also caused tensions with other countries receiving their own citizens back. Sometimes, the United States 🇺🇸 has used military planes for these flights, especially when deporting people to countries like Guatemala 🇬🇹, Ecuador 🇪🇨, and Colombia 🇨🇴.
Problems With Military Deportation Flights
These military flights have their own set of difficulties:
– Some countries refuse to let U.S. planes fly through their airspace, which forces the flights to take much longer routes—sometimes nearly doubling expected travel times.
– There are reports of harsh conditions on board, especially on military flights where deportees were kept in handcuffs for the entire trip, even when there were problems like broken air conditioning.
For example, Brazil 🇧🇷 has formally protested the way its citizens have been treated during these flights, describing their experience as “degrading.” Some Brazilians deported this way say they were held in handcuffs, including during long waits on hot planes facing technical difficulties.
Diplomatic Strains
These problems have sparked new diplomatic tensions between the United States and its partners in Latin America. Countries want to make sure their citizens are treated fairly, even when being sent home under deportation orders. The use of military planes for deportation—something not commonly seen—has brought extra attention and worry from lawyers and human rights groups.
Questions About The Pace Of Mass Deportation
Even with all these actions, not everyone agrees that the Trump administration’s goal of a record-setting deportation wave is being met. As reported by VisaVerge.com, some people who run shelters for migrants along the border say they have not seen the massive numbers of people that the administration said would arrive.
For example, in the city of Reynosa, Mexico, a large shelter that can host 5,000 people remains mostly empty. Hector Silva, who manages it, says that the numbers of deportees arriving at once remain far below what was expected. This suggests that while the U.S. is deporting more people than before, the effects on Mexican border cities are not always as large or sudden as some feared.
The Numbers in Perspective
Looking closely at the figures provided by ICE Air Operations and other official bodies, here is a snapshot of what the 2025 surge looks like:
– Over 142,000 individuals deported this year, including:
– 38,000 Mexican citizens,
– 6,000 non-Mexican nationals deported through Mexico.
– Most deportation flights from the U.S. go to Mexico City, but some also reach other big Mexican cities.
But the story is more complicated than just counting flights and seats. The fact that only about a third of deported Mexican nationals make use of government relief centers throws a spotlight on the many different ways deportees adapt and survive back in Mexico.
Relief, Transfers, And Moving On
Once they land, many Mexicans look to leave the arrival airport quickly, relying on money from the government-issued debit cards, if they take part in the official program, or from family. Transportation is often arranged to other parts of the country. Some are able to rejoin family within days. For others—especially those sent to new cities they do not know—the return brings new obstacles, finding work and shelter in a hurry.
For foreign nationals not from Mexico but sent there by the United States, the journey is often even tougher. Some try to connect with local groups for help with paperwork, while others try to raise money for a bus or a new attempt at reuniting with loved ones elsewhere.
To learn more about official U.S. procedures, including the role of ICE and how deportation processes work, readers can visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation page maintained by the Department of Homeland Security.
The Road Ahead
With the Trump administration promising to keep up the pace of deportation flights, the United States 🇺🇸 and Mexico 🇲🇽 look set for continued cooperation—but also occasional strains—around the issue of deportations. Mexico’s government has shown it wants to receive and care for its returning citizens, but the numbers using official relief channels remain smaller than the expectations set by both governments.
On the other hand, diplomatic problems linked to the use of military flights, and stories of uncomfortable or unsafe conditions for deportees, show that not all parts of the system are working smoothly. Countries like Brazil 🇧🇷 have voiced their concerns, underlining the need for the Department of Homeland Security and others involved in these flights to balance the need for border enforcement with a basic respect for human rights.
Ultimately, the flow of deportation flights and the number of people they are bringing to Mexico affects families, border cities, relief workers, and governments on both sides. As long as the United States pursues its current plan, all those involved—including those waiting on both sides of the border—will be watching to see if the pattern of sharp increases continues, or if new changes and policies emerge in response to these challenges.
For detailed and up-to-date information on deportation policies and resources for migrants, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
As these changes play out, the world will keep watching to see how both countries manage the challenges of deportation flights, relief needs, and the complex paths taken by the thousands of people affected every month.
Learn Today
Department of Homeland Security → U.S. government agency overseeing border security, immigration enforcement, and deportation operations nationwide, including ICE and CBP.
Deportation Flight → A government-operated flight transporting individuals being forcibly removed from one country to another, usually their country of origin.
ICE Air Operations → A division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that manages aircraft for the transportation and deportation of migrants.
CBP (Customs and Border Protection) → U.S. agency responsible for border enforcement and immigration inspections, but does not directly operate deportation flights.
“Mexico Embraces You” Program → A Mexican government initiative providing relief centers with shelter, food, medical care, and support for returning deportees.
This Article in a Nutshell
Deportation flights from the U.S. to Mexico have drastically increased in 2025, reaching nine flights a week. Most deportees land in Mexico City, but few use official relief centers. These shifts illustrate changing migration policies, international tensions, and the widespread impacts of increased removals on migrants, families, and both nations.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• ICE Deportation Flights Slam Mexico After Trump Order
• Trump Empties Migrant Shelters at US-Mexico Border
• US citizens returning from Mexico: What to know before crossing home
• New Mexico immigrant advocates denounce self-deportation offer
• US Citizens in Mexico: Key Documentation Requirements for Returning Home
